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Soggy areas in your garden create a harsh environment that many plants cannot tolerate. However, several grasses and ground covers tolerate and thrive in areas where their feet can stay wet throughout the year. When choosing these water-loving plants, consider the needs of your garden. For example, choose an evergreen grasses to provide greenery yearlong or flowering ground covers to brighten up and drab corner.

Evergreen Ground Covers and Ornamental Grasses

Several species of the ornamental grass and ground cover called sedge (Carex) can tolerate wet soil while providing year-round color. Variegated Japanese sedge (Carex morrowii “Aurea-variegata”) is a deer-resistant, water-loving grass producing green blades with creamy white striping. It grows in sunny areas in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 9. Orange New Zealand sedge (Carex testacea) has blades with a green base and orangish brown undertones. The orange color will become more intense during the spring and summer months. This wet-soil-tolerating, evergreen plant grows in zones 6 through 9 in sunny locations.

Flowering Ground Covers and Ornamental Grasses

A flowering perennial that grows as a ground cover, “Visions” astibile (Astilbe chinensis “Visions”) produces flower spikes covered in plumed blooms in hues of dark lavender to deep purple. “Visions” grows to about 14 inches tall in zones 4 through 8. This deer-resistant plant tolerates areas with an abundance of water. “Millard’s Variety” azure bluet (Houstonia caerulea “Millard’s Variety”) is a sun-loving flowering perennial that grows in a creeping format producing small, star-shaped blue flowers that burst throughout the delicate green leaves. It grows as a ground cover in zones 3 through 9, reaching heights of only 4 to 6 inches. This small yet stunning plant grows in moist and wet soils, and can be planted on the edge of ponds or in a rock garden.

Shade-Loving Ground Covers and Ornamental Grasses

Scarletta fetterbush (Leucothoe fontanesiana “Zeblid”) is a shade-loving evergreen ground cover that you can grow in wet and soggy areas. New leaves emerge with a scarlet-purple color, which changes to deep green as it matures. In the fall, the foliage changes to a red to bronze color. This compact plant grows between 18 and 24 inches tall in plant hardiness zones 5 through 8. Peacock spikemoss (Selaginella uncinata) grows in zones 7 to 9 in shaded areas and moist to wet soils. It produces low-growing feathery foliage that carpet the desired area in hues of bluish-green.

About the Author

Amanda Flanigan began writing professionally in 2007. Flanigan has written for various publications, including WV Living and American Craft Council, and has published several eBooks on craft and garden-related subjects. Flanigan completed two writing courses at Pierpont Community and Technical College.